Bolivia Protests: What's The Reason Behind The Uprising?

Protests in Bolivia have been occurring since 2019, when the country's former president, Evo Morales, resigned amid allegations of electoral fraud. Morales' supporters and opponents have since clashed in violent protests, with both sides accusing the other of human rights abuses. In 2024, tensions rose again as Morales, who intended to run for president in 2025, faced an arrest warrant for alleged statutory rape and human trafficking.

Allegations of electoral fraud in the 2019 general election

The 2019 Bolivian protests, also known as the Pitita Revolution, were sparked by allegations of electoral fraud in the 2019 general election. The protests, which began on 21 October 2019 and lasted until late November, were a response to concerns about the integrity of the elections.

The first indication of fraud was the suspension of the preliminary vote count, in which incumbent Evo Morales was not leading by a large enough margin (10%) to avoid a runoff. Subsequently, the publication of the official count showed Morales winning by just over 10%, raising further suspicions. Some international observers, including the Organization of American States (OAS), expressed concern and questioned the integrity of the election results.

The Bolivian opposition published a report detailing fraud accusations, including irregularities such as mistaken electoral act additions, data wiping, and instances where the ruling party obtained more votes than registered voters. The suspension of the vote count and the subsequent allegations of fraud led to widespread protests and demonstrations across Bolivia.

Morales denied the allegations and invited international observers to audit the electoral processes, promising to hold a runoff if any fraud was found. However, he initially refused to be bound by the results of an audit, and opposition leaders rejected the OAS audit as they had not been party to the agreement.

The allegations of electoral fraud and the subsequent protests had significant repercussions. Morales announced that the government would hold another full election, but he resigned on 10 November 2019, following calls for his resignation from influential groups and the publication of the OAS report detailing "clear manipulation" of the voting system. Jeanine Áñez, the second vice-president of the Senate, became the acting president of Bolivia, forming an interim government.

Protests continued, primarily by those who supported Morales and demanded his return. These protests included blockades on inter-departmental highways, resulting in food and fuel shortages. The interim government responded by deploying the military and adopting measures such as exempting the armed forces from criminal responsibility for their actions.

The allegations of electoral fraud and the subsequent protests had a significant impact on the country, leading to a period of political instability and social unrest. The events also highlighted issues within Bolivia's justice system, including political interference and a lack of independence.

Violence and human rights abuses during the protests

Violence and human rights abuses were prevalent during the 2019 Bolivian protests, with both pro- and anti-Morales groups engaging in acts of violence. The protests, also known as the Pitita Revolution, were sparked by claims of electoral fraud in the 2019 general election. While the majority of demonstrations were peaceful, there were numerous violent incidents.

Initially, violence was allegedly targeted at opposition protesters, with Pro-MAS supporters reportedly bused into opposition areas, armed, and told to clear blockades, resulting in deaths and injuries. Later, senior members of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) and their families were attacked, with acts of vandalism and arson committed against their homes.

The violence during the protests resulted in several deaths and injuries. As of November 17, 2019, 23 people had died and over 700 were injured in the context of the protests, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). On November 15, 2019, nine people died and 122 were wounded during a demonstration in Chapare province. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights attributed these deaths to the "unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by the police and army."

The police and security forces were accused of using excessive force and committing serious human rights violations during the protests. The GIEI report documented the deaths of 37 people in the context of the 2019 election-related protests and concluded that security forces executed 20 pro-Morales protesters and injured more than 170 people in massacres in Sacaba, Cochabamba, and Senkata, La Paz. The report also provided evidence of illegal detentions, sexual violence, and systematic torture by police forces, particularly in the predominantly Indigenous city of El Alto.

In addition to the violence perpetrated by security forces, the protests also witnessed acts of violence by pro- and anti-Morales supporters. The police were accused of failing to protect people from these violent groups and, in some cases, even encouraging and collaborating with them. The GIEI report documented acts of violence instigated by both the Morales administration and anti-Morales groups, including injuries, abductions, and torture.

The interim government, led by Jeanine Áñez, was also criticized for its response to the protests. On November 15, 2019, Áñez adopted a presidential decree deploying the military and exempting them from criminal responsibility when acting in "legitimate defense or state of necessity." This decree was seen as sending a dangerous message to soldiers and was inconsistent with international human rights standards. However, it was later repealed on November 28.

The role of the Bolivian army in the protests

The Bolivian army has played a significant role in the country's protests, with its actions and statements often influencing the course of events.

In 2019, the army's actions contributed to the resignation of then-President Evo Morales. After a disputed election, allegations of electoral fraud surfaced, with concerns raised by international observers. While the majority of the demonstrations were peaceful, there were also violent incidents targeting opposition protesters. Morales denied the allegations and invited international observers to audit the electoral process. However, as the situation escalated, the army's commanders suggested Morales resign during a televised press conference, and the police commander also requested his resignation. Morales ultimately stepped down and left the country, seeking political asylum in Mexico.

In 2024, the army was again involved in a tense situation. In June, there was an alleged coup attempt when Army troops stormed the government palace. President Luis Arce labelled it a coup attempt by Army Cmdr. Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga. However, Zuniga claimed that the mutiny was staged by President Arce to divert attention from economic issues and political battles. The situation calmed down after Zuniga's retreat, but it left Bolivians confused and divided over whether it was a genuine coup attempt.

The army has also been involved in protests demanding better working conditions for soldiers. In 2024, about 1,000 soldiers marched through La Paz, accusing the armed forces of discriminating against indigenous Bolivians and seeking reforms to address this. The military denied the discrimination claims and accused the protesting soldiers of sedition and rebellion. As a result, 702 servicemen were dismissed from their duties.

Additionally, the army has been deployed to protect key installations and ensure the transport of medical oxygen during political tensions and roadblocks by opposition supporters. This deployment aimed to maintain order and safeguard essential supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The arrest warrant for former president Evo Morales

Tensions have escalated in Bolivia as supporters of former president Evo Morales clashed with police following the announcement of an arrest warrant for the ex-leader. Morales, who governed Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, is under investigation for alleged statutory rape and human trafficking, which he denies.

The accusations against the 64-year-old have resurfaced ahead of presidential elections next year, in which he plans to run. The prosecutor, Sandra Gutiérrez, said she would issue an arrest warrant after Morales failed to attend a hearing in the case. On the day of the announcement, Morales's followers erected blockades on two major roads, which police attempted to clear. At least 12 people were arrested and one police officer was injured. Morales supporters have said they will keep the blockade up "indefinitely" and could extend it to affect major roads across the country should he be arrested.

The allegations against Morales are not new. In 2020, the Ministry of Justice filed a criminal complaint against the ex-president, accusing him of rape and human trafficking. In the complaint, prosecutors argued that sexual encounters Morales allegedly had in 2015 with a girl who was reportedly under age at the time constituted statutory rape. They said he had taken the girl on trips abroad, which they said amounted to human trafficking. Morales argued the accusations were part of a right-wing vendetta against him by the interim president who replaced him in office after his resignation in 2019 following allegations of vote-rigging. Morales, who was living in exile at the time, was also accused of sedition and terrorism, and an arrest warrant was issued. However, this warrant was annulled after his lawyers successfully argued that due process had not been followed.

Morales returned to Bolivia a day after Luis Arce, from Morales's Mas party, was sworn in as president in November 2020. However, the two erstwhile allies have since fallen out and their relations have become acrimonious since both announced their intentions to run as the Mas party's candidate in the 2025 presidential election. Both politicians have groups of loyal supporters willing to take to the streets—and, in some cases, engage in street brawls—to show their backing for their candidate.

The interim presidency of Jeanine Áñez

Áñez's supporters claim that Morales' alleged abuse of power triggered a legitimate uprising in the streets, and that the power vacuum left by the resignation of Morales and his vice president allowed Áñez to assume the interim presidency. However, Morales and his party have called Áñez's assumption of the presidency a coup.

During her time in office, Áñez pursued baseless charges against political opponents, with criminal investigations of over 150 people linked to the Morales government for sedition, terrorism, or membership in a criminal organization. Áñez also called on the military to support police tasks, and issued a decree exempting the military from any criminal responsibility when acting in "legitimate defense or state of necessity."

Under Áñez's leadership, security forces executed 20 pro-Morales protesters and injured more than 170 people in massacres in Sacaba and Senkata. A report by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) documented illegal detentions, sexual violence, and "systematic" torture by police forces in the predominantly Indigenous city of El Alto, as well as other abuses throughout the country. The report also asserted that the police had failed to protect people from violence committed by both pro- and anti-Morales supporters, and in some locations had encouraged and collaborated with violent groups of anti-Morales supporters that acted as "para-police" forces.

In March 2020, the Áñez administration closed schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in August, cancelled the rest of the school year, which was scheduled to end in December. Classes restarted in February 2021, mostly online.

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